Forest Lake Camp facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Forest Lake Camp |
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| Location | Chestertown, New York, United States |
| Coordinates | 43°33′48″N 73°46′30″W / 43.563244°N 73.774933°W |
| Established | 1926 |
Forest Lake Camp (FLC) is a popular summer camp. It is located in the beautiful Adirondack Mountains of New York. This camp is just north of Lake George.
Contents
Camp History: A Journey Since 1926
Forest Lake Camp for Boys first opened in 1926. It was created by Harold T. Confer. He was an athletic director from Freeport, New York. A year before opening, he bought over 200 acres (0.81 km2) of land. This land was around Forest Lake. An old farmhouse and an inn were on the property. These buildings are still used today. The land was once a stagecoach route. It connected Chestertown, New York, to Saratoga Springs, New York.
New Leadership and More Land
By 1954, Harold Confer's son, Philip, and his wife, Sally, took over the camp. They managed the camp for 32 years. During their time, they bought an extra 200 acres (0.81 km2) of land. This new land was on the other side of the lake. This meant they owned all the land around Forest Lake. In 1984, Philip's son, Gary, became the new camp director.
Becoming a Brother-Sister Camp
In 1990, Forest Lake Camp changed. It was no longer just for boys. "Forest Lake Camp for Girls" was opened. Now, it runs as a "brother-sister" camp. This means boys and girls attend the same camp. However, their cabins are on different parts of the campus. They also have separate daily programs.
How Boys and Girls Interact
Even though they have separate programs, boys and girls do interact. They come together for special events. These include July 4 celebrations and campfires. Older campers get more chances to interact. For example, they can join drama programs together. They also have at least one dance each summer.
Who Owns the Camp Now?
Today, the Blanck and Kelly families own Forest Lake Camp. They are from Waterbury, Vermont, and Needham, Massachusetts. FLC is officially recognized by the American Camp Association. This means it meets high standards for safety and quality. The camp offers different programs. They range from 2 to 7 weeks long. Boys and girls aged 8–16 can attend. Both male and female camps start and end on the same dates.
Camp Facilities: What You Can Do
Forest Lake Camp is huge! It sits on 825 acres (3.34 km2) of land. It also has 1.5 miles (2.4 km) of shoreline on its own private lake. The lake is 22-acre (89,000 m2) big.
Sleeping and Staff Areas
The camp has 19 cabins where campers sleep. Each cabin has bunk beds. There are also several cabins for staff members. Plus, there are 3 woods cabins for overnight trips.
Fun Activities and Sports Facilities
FLC offers many activities. Here are some of the sports facilities:
- 2 softball fields
- 2 soccer fields
- 2 lacrosse fields
- 2 basketball courts
- 1 street hockey rink
- 4 tennis courts (2 clay, 2 hard)
- 2 volleyball courts (one is beach volleyball)
- 2 climbing walls
- 6 ping pong tables
- 6 tetherball courts
- 1 riflery range
- 1 Skeet shooting range
- 2 archery ranges
There are also 2 riding rings and 2 stables for horseback riding. You can find a dance and yoga pavilion too.
Other Important Camp Spots
The camp has a store for snacks and souvenirs. There's a nature center and a craft barn. You can also visit the nature and science shop. For traditional Sunday Night Campfire, there are 2 campfire circles. An amphitheater is available for performances. The camp even has a vegetable farm! Plus, there are 25 miles (40 km) of private woodland trails. These are great for horseback riding, hiking, and mountain biking.
Famous Campers
Some people who went to Forest Lake Camp became well-known:
- Fred Olds
- Emmy Rossum
